Latching and locking means for luggage cases and like receptacles



Oct. 19, 1965 FEINBERG 2 3 LATCHING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR LUGGAGE CASES AND LIKE RECEPTACLES Filed March 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet FIE,.5

INVENTOR.

RvNq FEmaEaq A ORN EY Oct. 19, 1965 FEINBERG 3 3 LATCHING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR LUGGAGE CASES AND LIKE RECEPTACLES Filed March 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

IRVING FEINBERC-i ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1965 FEINBERG 2 3 LATCHING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR LUGGAGE CASES AND LIKE RECEPTACLES Filed March 25, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v \o 4. 2 W o r FIE JO INVENTOR uvuq FENaERq AT'TORNEY United States Patent O 3,212,304 LATCHING AND LOCKING MEANS FOR LUG- GAGE CASES AND LIKERECEPTACLES Irving Feinberg, Saddle Brook, NJ., assignor to Presto Co., Inc., Garfield, NJ., a corporation of New ork Filed Mar. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 354590 15 Clains. (Cl. 70--71) The invention relates to improvements in latching devices or latching and locking devices for luggage cases and like receptacles.

An object of the invention is to provide a latching device having a latching assembly which is longitudinally slideable to latch and unlatch the device from a hasp nember wherein the means for latching the device to the hasp member is operated to move in a direction opposite to the direction of movement mparted to the latching assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latching device having a latching assembly which is longitudinally slideable with respect to a hasp member to respective latched and unlatched positions, wherein the hasp member is provided with a transverse opening to receive latching means actuated by the longitudinally slideable latching assembly, the hasp member being related to the latching assembly so that it is covered or concealed thereby.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a latching device of the character described which furnishes a positive latching action independent of spring actuated motions.

Another object of the invention is to provide the latching device of the invention with locking means tolreleasably maintain the latching means thereof in locked position.

These, and other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan View of a latching device made in accordance with the invention, the device being shown in latched condition;

FIG. 2 is also a top plan View of the latching device in latched condition, this view being partially broken away to show the relationship of the device with respect to a hasp which the latching device overlies;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 2, this View showing the latching device in its unlatched condition;

FIG. 4 is an end View of the latching device with relation to the hasp as viewed in the direction of line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational View of the latching device in its unlatched condition and apart from the hasp;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the latching device with the housing or escutcheon plate removed and with the guide plate member of the device shown in phantom by the dot-dash lines, the locking means being omitted for clarity in illustration, this View showing the device in latched position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 except that the latching device is shown in unlatched position;

FIG. 8 is a top plan View of the latching device, the housing or escutcheon plate also being omitted, the locking means which is shown in this View being in locked position;

FIG. 9 is a View similar to FIG. 8 except that the locking means is shown in unlocked position;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view showing in perspective the several parts of the latching and locking device of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective View of the hasp.

Referring to the drawings, a latching device made in accordance with the invention generally comprises a latching assembly A which includes a housing or escutcheon plate B, a guide or cover plate C and a plug or latch member D. The latching assembly A is mounted for longitudinal, reciprocable movement upon a mounting frame E. The mounting frame is adapted to be secured at the peripheral edge of a section of a luggage case or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, hasp G is provided for cooperation with the latching device. The hasp, of course, is adapted to be secured to the peripheral edge of a luggage case section for cooperation with the opposed latching device secured to the other case section. As illustrated, the latching assembly A overlies the hasp and completely hides it when the device is in latched condition (FIGS. 1 and 2). As shown in FIG. 3 only a small portion of the hasp is exposed when the device is in unlatched condition. The structure of the hasp, which is also shown in FIG. 11, will be subsequently described.

The guide plate C is disposed on the undersde of the housing B and connected thereto so that the guide plate and housing are movable together when the exposed housing is manually engaged and pushed in one direction to latched position and in the opposite direction to unlatched position. The latch member D is positioned intermediate the guide plate C and the mounting frame E and is mount ed for sliding movement longitudinally or laterally with respect to both the guide plate and the mounting frame. The latch member D is provided with hasp-engaging means I formed to extend transversely therefrom. The hasp-engaging means is adapted to enter a transverse opening J formed in a longitudinal side of the hasp G.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the latch member D is retained in either its latched or unlatched positions by resilent means K which is biased between means provided by the mounting frame E and the latch member. The guide plate C is connected to the mounting frame E for longitudinal sliding movement with respect thereto by means preferably in the form of a pair of headed studs L and L'. One of the connecting studs has associated therewith rotatable means M cooperable with the guide plate C and the latch member D so that when the guide plate C has movement imparted thereto in one direction, the latch member D is caused to move in an opposite direction. Since the guide plate C and the housing B are connected to one another and move together as a unit, movement of the housing B in one direction results in the movement of the hasp-engagng means I of the latch member in the opposite direction.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, when the latching device comprising the latching assembly A connected to the mounting frame E for longitudinal movement with respect thereto is cooperatively related to the hasp G as shown in FIG. 3, applying manual pressure to the exposed housing B in the direction of the arrow X causes the hasp-engaging means I of the latch member D to move in a direction opposite to the direction X, and to move behind the portion of the hasp wall which is adjacent the opening J. As a result, the device is latched or connected to the hasp as shown in FIG. 2. When, as shown in FIG. 2, manual pressure is applied to the housing B in the direction of the arrow Y, the hasp-engaging means I is retracted into alignment with the transverse opening J, as shown in FIG. 3. In this unlatched condition, the latching device is separable from the hasp.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the described latching device is provided With means for releasably maintaining or locking the device in the haspengaged or latched condition of FIG. 2. For this purpose, and as shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, a locking bolt N is positioned upon the guide plate C and related to the underlying mountng frame E so that in one position of the locking bolt the latching device is in locked position (FIG. 8), and in the other position of the looking bolt (FIG. 9) the latching device is shiftable between latohed and unlatched positions and vice versa. The shifting of the looking bolt N from .unlocked to locked position and vice versa is accomplished through the medium of a related key barrel O which is disposed within the housing B and has a portion thereof exposed through an opening in the top of the housing. The key barrel is turned by the usual key (not shown).

In greater detail, and in accordance with the illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing B is substantially rectangular in shape and comprises a top plate portion 18 having downturned, opposite sides 14 and 14' along the length thereof and downturned, opposite sides 16 and 16' at each end (FIG. The latter sides are formed to provide retaining lugs 18 and 18' located substantially midway between the longitudinal sides 14, 14'. The retaining lugs are bent under the guide plate C to retain the plate in fixed, assembled relationship with the housing B, whereby the guide plate and the housing are slidably movable together as a unit.

The housing B may be made from metal strip which is blanked, pierced and formed to desired shape, and plated to provide a suitable finish. If desired, the housing may be made as a die casting. The upper or exposed surface of the plate portion 10 may be ornamented in any desired fashion. The plate portion of the housing is provided with a circular opening 28, and an intersecting notch 22 to allow exposure of the key barrel O and alignment of slot 24 in the key barrel with the notch 22 for the reception of a key.

The guide plate C is a rigid piece of substantially rectangular Outline which is preferably formed by blanking, piercing and forming from metal strip. As shown in FIG. 10, the guide plate comprises a wall 25 having longitudinally extending upturned, opposite, parallel sides 26, 26' which are designed to fit within the Walls 14, 14' of the housing B, thereby nesting the guide plate within the underside of the housing upon assembly of the plate and housing. The side 26 of the guide plate is somewhat shorter than the side 26', the remainder of the side 26 being taken up 'by shoulders 30, 30'. The center portion of each of the sides 26, 26' is slightly higher than the remainder of the upturned sides in order to maintain the proper desired spacing between the underside of the housing's plate 10 portion and the wall 25 of the guide plate C. The guide plate also has a pair of upturned opposite end walls 28 and 28' which are parallel to each other. The guide plate C is Secured to the housing E by bending the lugs 18, 18' over and under the ends of the plate.

The wall 25 of the guide plate C is provided with a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally aligned slots 32, 32' through which the studs L and L', respectively, are extended. As shown in FIG. 10, the studs each possess a oircular head portion 34, 34', respectively, of a diameter which is greater than the width of the longitudinally extending slots 32, 32'. The shanks 36, 36' of the headed studs have a diameter which is slightly smaller than the width of the slots 32, 32'. The extremities 38 and 38' of the studs are of smaller diameter than the shanks 36, 36' and are adapted to be respectively received in apertures 40 and 40' provided in the mountng frame E. With the studs positioned in the slots 32, 32' as shown in FIGS. 6-9, and the extremites 38, 38' in the apertures 40, 40' of the mountng plate, the free ends of the extremities are headed over on the underside of the mountng frame to secure the assembly of parts. By this Construction the guide plate C is longitudinally sldable with respect to the mountng plate E, and since the housing B is fiXedly Secured to the guide plate, both the housing and the guide plate are longitudinally movable With respect to the mountng frame.

As shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the base or wall 25 of the guide plate C is provided with a plurality of spaced locating means for the looking bolt N. The looking bolt N is made of a resilient strip of spring metal bent to substantially U-shape and comprises a substantially straight arm 42 and an arm 44 connected thereto by the base 46 of the U-shaped piece. The arm 44 is formed to provide a plurality of spaced grooves 48, the grooves being adapted to receive the tang of a key so that the looking bolt may be shifted from its unlocked position shown in FIG. 9 to the locked position of FIG. 8 and vice versa.

Preferably, the locating means for the looking bolt N are provided by piercing the Wall 25 of the frame C and striking up the metal to form projecting tangs. As shown in FIGS. '840, the transversely spaced tangs 50 and 50' furnish hearing surfaces for the arm 42, and transversely spaced tangs 52 and 52' support the arm 44. Both pairs of laterally spaced tangs 50, 50' and 52, 52' confine the looking bolt for sldable movement transversely with respect to the laterally or longitudinally sldable guide plate C.

The *wall 25 of the guide plate C is provided with a substantially rectangular, longitudinally extending slot 54 which allows a pair of laterally spaced tangs 56, 56' provided by the mountng frame E to extend upwardly therethrough. When the looking bolt N is shifted to the position shown in FIG. 8, the looking bolt is intermediate the tangs 56 and 56', and the guide plate C, and the assembly A of which it is a part, is prevented from being moved with respect to the mountng frame E. When the looking bolt has been shifted to the position shown in FIG. 9, the locking bolt clears the mountng framds tangs 56, 56' and the assembly A may be moved between latched and unlatched positions and vice versa. The wall 25 'of the guide plate is funther provided with an aperture 58 adapted to receive and provide a pivoting fulcrum for the end of a key inserted in the slot 24 of the key barrel O, a projection of the key being received in either of :the indentations 48 of the looking bolt N to move it from its looking position of FIG. 8 to the unlocked position of FIG. 9 and vice versa.

As best shown in FIG. 10, the latch member D is generally rectangular in Outline. At one end of the latch member a U-shaped cut-out is provided to furnish a pair of longitudinally extending, laterally spaced arms 60, 60'. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the area between the arms 60, 60' allows the shank of the stud L' to clear the latch member D intermediate the guide plate C and the mounting frame E, and allows the latch member room for the desired longitudinal movement thereof. The opposite end of the latch member is notohed at 62 to furnish the extensions 64, 64'. The extremities of the arms 60, 60' and the extremities of the extensions 64, 64' are formed to project upwardly a slight amount so that when the latch member is positioned intermediate the mountng plate E and the guide plate C, the latch member may slide with respect to both the mountng plate and the guide plate without undue friotion, the upturned extremities only hearing against the underside of the guide plates wall 25.

The hasp-engaging means I extends transversely from the side 66 of the latch member D, and is formed in the shape of a hook having the free end thereof 68 extending lengthwise in spaced relation with respect to the main or body portion 70 of the latch member. The hook-shaped hasp-engaging means is provided with an angled edge 69 to furnish a cam and lead-in for cooperation with the edge of the hasp wall at the opening J to draw the latching devce and hasp together. As shown in FIG. 3, the hookshaped hasp-engaging means I is dimensioned to clear the edges which `define the opening in the hasp.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10, the opposite longitudinal side of the latch member D s provided with a series of notches 72, which are adapted to coaot with the spring K. As shown, the spring K is preferably in the form of a leaf spring having an inturned end 74, the opposite end 76 being reversely bent. The spring is further bent at 78 to provide a straight portion 80 and an arm 82 on opposite sides of the bend.

As shown in FIGS, 6 and 7, the spring K is related to the mounting frame E and the latch member D so that the latch member may be retained in latched (FIG. 6) and unlatched (FIG. 7) positions. For this purpose, the base portion or wall 84 of the mounting frarne is pierced and struck up to provide longitudinally spaced tangs 86 and 88 in addition to the tangs 56, 56' previously described. The tangs 86 and 88 are shorter in height than the tangs 56, 56', which have the added function of coacting with the locking bolt N as previously described. As shown, the inturned end 74 of the spring K is hooked around the tang 86, the straight portion 80 of the spring being positioned on the inner side of the tang 88 and fiexed out of its plane by the positioning of such portion on the outside of the tang 56 at the bend 78. The bent portion 76 at the end of the arm 82 is adapted to be received in the notches 72, depending upon the position to which the latch member D is shifted. In this manner, the bent portion 76 of the spring resiliently bears against the latch member D. The walls of the notches are angularly inclined to allow the engaging portion of the tensioned spring to move into and out of the respective notches as motion is imparted to the latch member against the pressure provided by the spring. Thus, the latching member is retained in either the latched position of FIG. 6 or the unlatched position of FIG. 7, and is movable out of such respective positions only when suflicient force is applied to overcome the resilient force of the spring. The spring prevents slippage or undesired movement of the latch member (and the latching assembly A). Positive latching action is provided independent of spring actuated motions. The spring acts to retain the latch member in latched and unlatched positions; the spring is actuated by the movement of the latching assembly, or more specifically, the movement of the latch member.

As previously described, the latch member D has associated therewith means M cooperable with the guide plate C so that when the guide plate, or the latching assembly A of which it is a part, has longitudinal movement imparted thereto in 'one direction, the latch member is caused to move in an opposite direction. For this purpose the latch member is provided with an aperture 90 to allow the shank of the stud L to eXtend through the latch member for connection to the mounting frame E. As shown in FIG. 10, a transversely extending slot 92 is in communication with the aperture 90 and a longitudinal side of the latch member. The slot 92 provides opposite, longitudinally spaced hearing surfaces 94, 94' for coaction with the means M which, as shown, is a circular disk 96 having a tang 98 extending downwardly from its periphery and a tang 98' on the disks opposite side extending upwardly therefrom.

The disk 96 is provided with a central aperture 100 through which the shank 36 of the stud L extends. The downwardly extending tang 98 is received within the slot 92 formed in the latch member D for respective coaction with the slofs sides 94 and 94'. The disk 96 is positioned intermediate the guide plate C and the latch member D with its upwardly projecting -tang 98' positioned in an aperture 102 formed in the wall 25 of the guide plate. The stud L whose shank extends through the aperture 100 of the disk 96 provides an aXis for rotation of the disk. To enable the same guide plate C to be used for both n'ghtand left-handed assemblies, a second aperture 102' is provided in the wall 25. The same disks 96 may be used for rightand left-handed assemblies because of the disks' symmetry.

As shown in FIG. 10, the mounting frame E is substantially rectangular in outline. It is preferably formed as a stamping from sheet metal. The mounting frame is adapted to be Secured in fixed relationship with one of the separable parts of a luggage case or like receptacle, and for this purpose the plate portion 84 thereof may be provided with downwardly extending prong portions 104, 104' for connecting the mounting trame, and the parts of the latching device connected thereto, to an appropriate part of the luggage case or other contaner. Although the prong-like portions 104, 104' provide a convenient and preferably means for fastening the latching device to a container, it will be apparent that any other suitable means such as rivets or the like may be used for such purpose. Where rivets or screws are used to fasten the device to a luggage case section, appropriate holes are provided near the ends of the plate portion 84 of the mounting frame. The plate portion is formed along a longtudinal edge thereof with upwardly pro ecting, longitudinally spaced fiange portions 106, 106' which serve .as spa-cing means to maintain the pro-per distance between the guide plate and the mounting frame when the parts are assembled with the latch member therebetween.

In the illustrated -and preferred form of the nventon means is provided for alignment and improved separable connection of the latching device and hasp. For such purposes, the mounting plate E is provided with a transversely extending portion or dowel 107 for cooperation with the hasp G. The dowel has a rounded or com/ex forward edge to facilitate entry into a mating openng provided in the hasp.

As shown in FIG. 11, the hasp member G is in the form of a hollow member, and is preferably a U-shaped channel having the ends thereof closed to prevent the entry of extraneous material or objects. The hasp member is preferably made by blanking, piercing and forming from metal strip and comprises a base portion 108 and parallel arms 110, 110' which provide the side walls of the channel. One wall is made with a cut-out portion which provides the opening I for the hasp-engaging means I, and a second opening 111 to allow entry of the dowel 107. The base portion 108 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures 112, 112' to allow rivets, screws or the like to be eXtended therethrough to secure the hasp member to a luggage case -or the like for cooperation with the latching device. As shown in FIG. 2, the hasp member G is of a length slightly less than the length of the housing B, and as shown in FIGS. 1 4, the hasp member is of a Width to be overhung and concealed by the latching assembly A.

With the latching device and hasp respectively Secured to opposite sections of a luggage case or the like, closing the case brings the latching device and hasp together into the relationship shown in FIG. 3, the latching assembly, of course, being in the unlatched position. Though the initial proper alignment of latching device and hasp may have been altered because of the usual abuse to which the luggage case is subjected, the lead-in provided by the dowel 107 acts to properly align the parts and maintain them in suitable relationship for the latching to one another.

With the latching assembly A in the unlatched position shown in FIG. 3 (the latch member D being in the position shown in FIG. 7), manual pressure is applied to the housing B in the direction of the arrow X as indicated in FIG. 3. The guide plate C is fixed to the housing B for movement therewith and also moves in the direction of the arrow X. Since the guide plate C engages the rotary disk 96 through the medium of the plate's sides at the aperture 102 with the upstanding tang 98', the linear motion of the guide plate causes rotation of the disk in a clock-wise direction from its position of FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 6. As a result, the longitudinal movement of the housing B and its connected guide plate C, which causes such rotation of the disk 98, is translated (through the medium of the downwardly extending tang 98 co acting with the side 94' of the slot 92 in the latch member) into a force which moves the latch member D in a direction opposte to the direction X, or to the position of the latch member shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The longitudinal movement of the latching assembly A to latched position is limited by the engagement of the latch member's ends 64,164' `with the downturning side 16 of the housing member.

The force imparted to the latch member to shift it longitudinally from -its unlatched position of FIG. 7 (and FIG. 3) toward the latched position of FIG. 6 (and FIG. 2) causes the pressure of the spring K on the latch member to be overcome whereby the spring end 76 moves out from one notch 72 in the latch member into the adjoining notch thereby resiliently retainng the latch member in its now latched position. As the latch member D moves from the unlatched to latched position, the hasp-engaging means I on the latch member moves from its algned position with the opening J in the hasp member (FIG. 3) to a position where the hook portion 68 has moved behind the wall 110 of the hasp member (FIG. 2).

When the latching device is in the latched condition of FIGS. 3 and 6, the locking bolt N may be moved by a key inserted in the key barrel O from the position shown in FIG. 9 to the position shown in FIG. 8 to lock the device in its latched condition.

To unlatch the latched device, and if it has been locked in latched condition, the key is used to move the locking bolt N -from the position shown in FIG. 8 to the position shown in FIG. 9. Now, the application of manual pressure to the latching assembly A, or the exposed housing B, in the direction of the arrow Y, as indicated in FIG 2, causes the latch member D, through the intermediate moton translating disk 98, to move in a direction opposte to the direction of pressure application to the housing. fis a result, the latch member reaches the position shown n FIG. 7, with the hasp-engaging means I thereof now algned with the opening J in the hasp member G as shown n FIG. 3. The longitudinal movement of the latching assembly A to unlatched position is limited by the engagement of the latch member's opposte end or the free ends of portions 60, 60' with the downturned sde 16' of the housing member. In this unlatched congton the device may be separated from the hasp mem- It -is `believed that the advantages and improved results of the invention will be apparent from the foregomg detaled description of a preferred embodiment thereof. It wll be understood that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as sought to be dened in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A latching device for luggage or the like cooperable wth a hasp comprising a mounting frame adapted for connection to a lugg ge case section or the like, a latchng assembly connected to said mounting frame for longitudnal reciprocable movement with respect thereto, said assembly including a housing member and a latch member having hasp-engaging means, said housing member being manually engageable to move the assembly to latched and unlatched positions, said latch member being positioned intermediate the housing member and the mounting frame and mounted for longitudinal movement wth respect to the housing member and mounting frame, and means provided by the latching assembly to impart longitudinal movement to the latch zmember in a direction opposte to the direction of movement imparted to the housing member.

2. A latching device for luggage or the like cooperable with a hasp comprising a mounting frame adapted for connection to a luggage case section or the like, a latching assembly connected to said mounting frame for longitudinal reciprocable movement with respect thereto, said assembly including a housing member and a latch member having hasp-engaging means, said housing member being manually engageable to move the assembly to latched and unlatched positions, said latch member being positioned intermediate the housing member and the mounting frame and mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to the housing member and mounting frame, and means provided by the latching assembly to impart longitudinal movement to the latch member in a direction opposte to the direction of movement imparted to the housing member, and resilient means associated with the latch member and actuated by the movement thereof to retain the latch member in its latched and unlatched positions.

3. A latching device as set forth in claim 2wherein the latching assembly includes a locking bolt mounted for movement transversely of the plane of movement of the assembly, the mounting frame providing means for engagement by the lockin bolt to block movement of the latching assembly when in latched position, the housing member providing key admission means and the locking bolt having key cooperable means whereby the locking bolt may be moved from positions to block and unblock the latching assembly.

4. A latching device for luggage or the like cooperable with a hasp comprising a mounting frame adapted for connection to a luggage case section or the like, a housing member, a guide plate Secured to the underside of the housing member, and a latch member having haspengaging means, said latch member being positioned between the guide plate and the mounting frame for 1ongitudinal reciprocable movement with respect to the guide plate and the mounting frame, means connecting the guide plate to the mounting frame to allow longitudinal reciprocable movement of the guide plate and housing member with respect to the mounting frame, said housing member being manually engageable to move the housing member and guide plate to latched and unlatched positions, and means cooperable with the guide plate and the latch member to impart movement to the latch member in a direction opposte to the direction of movement imparted to the housing member.

5. A latching device for luggage or the like cooperable with a hasp comprising a mounting frame adapted for connection to a luggage case section or the like, a housing member, a guide plate Secured to the underside of the housing member, and a latch member having haspengaging means, said latch member being positioned between the guide plate and the mounting frame for longitudinal reciprocable movement with respect to the guide plate and the mounting frame, means connecting the guide plate to the mounting frame to allow longitudinal reciprocable movement of the guide plate and housing member with respect to the mounting frame, said housing member being manually engageahle to move the housing member and guide plate to latched and unlatched positions, means cooperable with the guide plate and the latch member to impart movement to the latch member in a direction opposte to the direction of movement imparted to the housing member, and resilient means biased between the mounting frame and the latch member to retain the latch member in its latched and unlatched positions.

6. A latching device as set forth in claim 5, wherein a locking bolt is mounted on the guide plate for movement transversely of the plane of movement of the guide plate and the housing member Secured thereto, the mount ing frame providing means for engagement by the locking bolt to block movement of the guide plate and housing member when in latched position, the housing member providing key admission means and the locking bolt having key cooperable means whereby the locking bolt may be moved to and from blocking position.

7. A latching device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the means connectin the guide plate to the mounting" frame comprises a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending slots formed in the guide plate and a headcd stud extending through each slot and connected to the mounting frame.

8. A latching device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the means cooperable with the guide plate and the latch member to impart movement to the latch member compn'ses a rotatable disk intermediate the guide plate and the latch member having means extending from opposite sides thereof for engagement with cooperable means provided by the guide plate and latch member.

9. A latching device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the means connecting the guide plate to the mounting frame comprises a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally eXtending Slots formed in the guide plate and a headed stud extending through each slot and connected to the mounting frame; and wherein the means cooperable with the guide plate and the latch member to impart movement to the latch member comprises a disk positioned to rotate about an aXis provided by one of said studs, said disk being intermediate the guide plate and latch member, said disk having means extending from opposite sides thereof for engagement with cooperable means provided by the guide plate and latch member.

10. A latching device for luggage or the like in combination with a hasp comprising a mounting frame adapted for connection to a luggage case section or the like, a latching assembly connected to said mounting frame for longitudinal reciprocable movement with respect thereto, said assembly including a housing member and a latch member having transversely extending haspengaging means, said housing member being manually engageable to move the assembly .to latched and unlatched positions, said latch member being positioned intermediate the housing member and the mounting frame and mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to the housing member and moutning frame, and means provided by the latching assembly to impart longitudinal movement to the latch member in a direction opposite to the direction of movement imparted to the housing member, said hasp comprising a hollow member having an opening in a side wall thereof for entry of said hasp-engaging means, and means for securing the hollow member to a luggage case section or the like.

11. A structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein the mounting frame is provided With a transversely extending dowel, and the side wall of the hollow member has a second opening for entry of the dowel.

12. A latching device for luggage or the like in combination with a hasp comprising a mounting frame adapted for connection to a luggage case section or the like, a housing member, a guide plate secured to the underside of the housing, and a l-atch member positioned between the guide plate and the mounting frame for longitudnal reciprocable movement with respect to .the guide plate and the mounting frame, means connecting the guide plate to the mounting frame to allow longitudinal reciprocable movement of the guide plate and housing member with respect to the mounting frame, said latch member having transversely extending hasp-engaging means, said housing member being manually engageable to move the housing member and guide plate to latched and unlatched positions, means cooperable with the guide plate and the latch member to impart movement to the latch member in a direction opposite to the direction of movement imparted rto the housing member, and resilient means biased between the mounting frame and the latch member to retain the latch member in its respectve latched and unlatched positions, said hasp comprising a hollow member having an opening in a side wall thereof for entry of said hasp-engaging means, and means for securing the hollow member to a luggage case section or the like.

13. A structure as set forth in claim 12, wherein the mounting frame is provided with a transversely extending dowel, and the side wall of the hollow member has a second opening for entry of the dowel.

14. A latching device for luggage or the like in combination with a hasp, said latching device comprising a mounting frame adapted for connection to a luggage case section or the like, said mounting frame having a dowel extending transversely therefrom, a housing member, a guide plate secured to the underside of the housing, and a latch member positioned between the guide plate and the mounting frame for longitudinal reciprocable movement with respect to the guide plate and the mounting frame, said latch member having hasp-engaging means extending t-ransversely therefrom, a pair of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending Slots formed in the guide plate, a headed stud extencled through each slot and connected to the mounting frame to allow longitudinal reciprocable movement of the guide plate and housing member with respect to the mounting frame, said housing member being manually engageable to move the housing member and guide plate to latched and unlatched positions, a disk intermediate the guide plate and the latch member positioned to rotate about an axis provided by one of said studs, said disk having means extending from opposite sides thereof for engagement with cooperable means provided by the guide plate and the latch member to impart movement to the latch member in a direction opposite to the direction of movement imparted to the housing member, and resilient means biased between the mounting frame and the latch member to retain the latch member in its respective latched and unlatched positions, said hasp comprising a hollow member having an opening in a side wall thereof for entry of said hasp-engaging means and a second opening for entry of said dowel, the hollow member being of a length not greater than the length of said housing member and of a width to be overhung and concealed by the housing member and guide plate secured thereto, and means for securing the hollow member to a luggage case section or the like.

15. A structure as set forth in claim 14, wherein a locking bolt is mounted on the guide plate for movement transversely of the plane of movement of the guide plate and the housing member secured thereto, the mounting frame providing means for engagement by the locking bolt to block movement of the guide plate and housing member when in latched position, the housing member providing key admission means and the locking bolt having key cooperable means whereby the locking bolt may be moved to and from blocking position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,897,666 8/59 Gumport -70 3,103,114 9/63 Atkinson 70-71 FOREIGN PATENTS 696,467 9/53 Great Britain.

3 49,123 6/ 3 7 Italy.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Primary Examner. 

1. A LATCHING DEVICE FOR LUGGAGE OR THE LIKE COOPERABLE WITH A HASP COMPRISING A MOUNTING FRAME ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION TO A LUGGAGE CASE SECTION OR THE LIKE, A LATCHING ASSEMBLY CONNECTED TO SAID MOUNTING FRAME FOR LONGITUDINAL RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO, SAID ADDEMBLY INCLUDING A HOUSING MEMBER AND A LATCH MEMBER HAVING HASP-ENGAGING MEAS, SAID HOUSING MEMBER BEING MANUALLY ENGAGEABLE TO MOVE THE ASSEMBLY TO LATCHED AND UNLATCHED POSITIONS, SAID LATCH MEMBER BEING POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE HOUSING MEMBER AND THE MOUNTING FRAME AND MOUNTED FOR LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE HOUSING MEMBER AND MOUNTING FRAME, AND MEANS PROVIDED BY THE LATCHING ASSEMBLY TO IMPART LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT TO THE LATCH MEMBER IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT IMPARTED TO THE HOUSING MEMBER. 